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Regner would be forced to position his own people near the rebel camp—hoping to go through the rebels—or he’d risk our people cutting through the same land and attacking him from behind.
As the night grew darker, our plans solidified. All of us would leave tomorrow. But most importantly, I would be with Prisca, where I could see her and hear her and know where she was at all times—firmly clamped to my side.
Prisca would practice using the hourglass as we traveled, sneaking most of us back into the city. We would find Rothnic, learn Jamic’s location, break him free, and take away Regner’s greatest weapon—all in one night. Meanwhile, Demos and Asinia would rescue Tibris and convince the rebels to ally with us.
It was a huge, audacious, risky plan.
In the back of my mind, I knew we also needed to search for the other two amulets. Desperately. But Jamic had to take priority. We couldn’t risk Regner gaining access to that much power.
I glanced around the room as the others talked quietly. Cavis’s missing presence was a wound that would never heal.
It would always be this way. Never again would we be the same. I’d been too slow in that cave. I should have noticed. Should have known something was terribly wrong. But I hadn’t. And now Cavis was dead.
Prisca glanced my way, and her gaze held mine, the concern evident even as she gave me a considering look.
I’d broken her trust by not telling her immediately about Tibris. It didn’t matter that I’d been attempting to fix the situation before it could hurt her. Now, she was wondering what else I was keeping from her.
And from the way she’d just firmed her mouth, those amber eyes burning into mine, we were about to have that exact conversation.
It was time to tell her the truth. About everything.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“We should all get some rest,” Lorian announced, not taking his eyes from mine. “If anyone thinks of anything else, we’ll discuss it in the morning before we leave.”
Catching my wrist, he tugged me toward the door. A moment later, we were back in my room.
Lorian released my wrist, and I backed up several steps, narrowing my eyes at him. He watched me back, and even now, when I was furious, it was all I could do not to step closer, slide my hand up to the back of his neck, and guide his mouth down to mine.
I took another large step farther away from him, and his eyes gleamed.
“I shouldn’t have kept the news about Tibris from you,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
My heart skipped. Lorianwasn’t someone who apologized often. Because it wasn’t often that he thought he was in the wrong. He stalked through life with the sheer self-assurance that all his moves were the right ones. Except, perhaps, when it came to me.
“It’s difficult for me, Lorian, because not only did you lie, but I can tell you’re still hiding something now.”
His eyes sharpened, but he waited me out.
Lorian loved me. I felt the truth of that deep in my bones. I’d considered what he could possibly be keeping from me that he’d feel the need to hide. He was, after all, someone who was used to roaming this continent, making choices based on his own moral code.
Well, that—and his brother’s orders.
I took a deep breath, watching Lorian closely.“Tell me the truth. Am I your mate?”
Surprise flashed across his face before he could hide it. My mouth went dry.
“That looks like a yes.”
His gaze was locked with mine. His eyes blazed like two emeralds, filled with stubborn tenacity. I hadn’t seen that exact expression since the moment I’d asked him to let me go—right after he’d healed Demos. And he’d refused.
“This isn’thow I wanted to tell you. But you deserve the truth. Yes. Yes, you’re my mate.”
I let out a strangled sound that made his nostrils flare. He took a single step closer, and I backed up. If he touched me, I’d do something stupid like jump into his arms. He froze.
Flashes of memories were flicking through my mind. Lorian, snarling at Eryndan, fae fire encircling me. Lorian, leaving his brother and following me when I went after the hourglass. Lorian’s face in my dreams before we’d even met.
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Is this…is this why I dreamed of you?” I asked, and my voice somehow came out steady.
